Serie A: Okoye apologises after early red card sinks Udinese
Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has issued a public apology after his early dismissal played a decisive role in his side’s 5-1 Serie A defeat to Fiorentina on Sunday.
The Nigerian international was sent off in the eighth minute after a reckless challenge on Fiorentina forward Moise Kean, with referee Maurizio Mariani showing a straight red card without consulting VAR, leaving Udinese to play almost the entire match with 10 men.
Early dismissal turns the contest
The numerical disadvantage quickly told as Fiorentina took full control of the game.
Rolando Mandragora opened the scoring in the 21st minute before Albert Guðmundsson doubled the lead shortly before half-time. Cher Ndour added a third goal in first-half stoppage time to effectively put the contest beyond Udinese.
Fiorentina continued their dominance after the break, with Kean making it 4-0 in the 56th minute.
Udinese briefly responded through Oumar Solet in the 66th minute, but Kean struck again three minutes later to complete a comprehensive victory for the hosts.
“I’m sorry, Bianconeri”
Okoye reacted after the match by taking responsibility for the outcome, issuing a brief apology to supporters and the club.
“I’m sorry, Bianconeri,” he wrote on Snapchat.
Suspension concerns and wider implications
The red card could rule Okoye out for up to three Serie A matches, with the goalkeeper expected to miss Udinese’s final fixture of the year against Lazio on December 27.
The setback also comes amid questions over his international future, after he opted out of Nigeria’s squad for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, reportedly due to concerns over playing as a backup to first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
For Fiorentina, the result marked their first league win of the season after 16 matches, ending a run of nine defeats and six draws and providing a much-needed morale boost.
